Global pictures from Dec. 9 -15

Henry A. Koshollek / The Capital Times

A major ice storm blasted the nation's midsection this week, leading to power outages, school closings, canceled flights and at least 24 deaths. The news wasn't all glum, however: Cross-country skiers took advantage of the snow to trek along Lake Wingra in Madison, Wis., on Tuesday.

A major ice storm blasted the nation's midsection this week, leading to power outages, school closings, canceled flights and at least 24 deaths. The news wasn't all glum, however: Cross-country skiers took advantage of the snow to trek along Lake Wingra in Madison, Wis., on Tuesday. (Henry A. Koshollek / The Capital Times)

Bob Helton of Tulsa, Okla., stands at his gas stove as he tries to heat his home Wednesday. Helton was among the hundreds of thousands of residents in the nation's midsection who lost power in this week's severe ice storm. Oklahoma was particularly hard hit, as downed power lines caused dozens of fires; President Bush declared an emergency there.

Bob Helton of Tulsa, Okla., stands at his gas stove as he tries to heat his home Wednesday. Helton was among the hundreds of thousands of residents in the nation's midsection who lost power in this week's severe ice storm. Oklahoma was particularly hard hit, as downed power lines caused dozens of fires; President Bush declared an emergency there. (Mike Simons / Tulsa World)